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I read an interesting transcript from a speech made by a chap called Andrew Metcalf.

Andrew Metcalf is the Secretary for the department of Immigration and Citizenship and he made his speech during an address at the Migration Institute of Australia 2007 conference last Friday.

The national conference, held on the 19th of October brought together Migration agents from both inside and outside of Australia.

His speech highlights a number of concerns which everyone looking to utilise the services of a registered migration agent should be aware of whilst doing their homework.

I don’t want to make anyone paranoid when it comes to choosing an agent but being honest some of his comments left me feeling pretty perplexed by some of the ‘going-ons’ within the industry. Read the full story

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A nifty new feature and useful addition from the Department of Immigration and Multicultulral Affairs.

Medical forms can now be accessed directly from the DIMA website for all General Skilled Migration applications.

As well as the forms themselves, you will also find a good mix of Information relating to specific health requirements.

The information and the necessary forms can now be conveniently accessed by clicking here

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NEWS

Please note that on Monday 2nd of October the ASPC will be closed because there is a public holiday in South Australia. To provide timely information to applicants and migration agents the proposed allocation dates for the 3rd of October are shown below following those for the 26th of September.

Acknowledgment of Applications

The ASPC is current experiencing some delays in receipting and acknowledging applications and regrets the inconvenience this may be causing applicants and their representatives. While this backlog exists information will be provided here daily about what applications are currently being receipted. This backlog in receipting is being addressed and will be rectified over the next few weeks and your patience during this period is appreciated. Please note that these delays do not affect the date on which a valid application is recorded as having been received and is the date used for processing purposes.

As of 29 September 2006 the ASPC is receipting offshore applications received on 11 August 2006 and onshore applications received on 8 September 2006.

Please note that the update on allocation dates follows. The information will continue to updated for each Tuesday and you only need to email this mailbox once per week if you are seeking current information on allocation dates.

Processing and Allocation Information

The information below is updated weekly on Tuesdays.

As advised on the DIMA website processing of an application will usually commence within seven (7) working days of its receipt by the department. This means that an application is receipted, acknowledged and a file number is allocated.

Once this has occurred a case officer is appointed to assess each application as soon as possible, however, the ASPC receives a large number of applications and you will not be contacted immediately. Applications lodged on the dates shown below are currently being allocated to case officers for further processing.

As of 26 September 2006 the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre is allocating applications lodged on or before the following dates:

ONSHORE APPLICATIONS

Student/Graduate

Paper based applications: 23 May 2006 (subclass 880) and 31 May 2006
(subclass 881) and 30 May 2006 (subclass 882)
E-lodged (online) applications: 02 June 2006 (all subclasses)

Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) (SIR VISA)

Paper based applications: 15 May 2006 (this data has been amended on advice from the processing area)

E-lodged (online) applications: 10 May 2006

New Zealand

All applications: 2 February 2006 (all subclasses)

OFFSHORE APPLICATIONS

Applications for Classes BN, BQ and BR (subclasses 134, 136, 137, 138 and 139)

Priority Applications: 27 March 2006

Non-Priority Applications: 13 March 2006

Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) (SIR VISA)

Paper based applications: 04 April 2006
E-lodged (online) applications: 18 June 2006

As of 3rd October 2006 the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre WILL BE allocating applications lodged on or before the following dates:

Please note that allocations will not occur until the 3rd of October.

ONSHORE APPLICATIONS

Student/Graduate

Paper based applications: 5 June 2006 (subclass 880 ) and 21 June 2006 (subclass 881) and 16 June 2006 (subclass 882) E-lodged (online) applications: 14 June 2006 (all subclasses)

Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) (SIR VISA)

Paper based applications: 15 June 2006
E-lodged (online) applications: 20 May 2006

New Zealand

All applications: 15 February 2006 (all subclasses)

OFFSHORE APPLICATIONS

Applications for Classes BN, BQ and BR (subclasses 134, 136, 137, 138 and 139)

Priority Applications: 29 March to 4 April 2006
Non-Priority Applications: 15 March 2006

Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) (SIR VISA)

Paper based applications: 04 April 2006
E-lodged (online) applications: 22 June 2006

Notes

Onshore: means that the visa being applied for can be granted while the applicant is in Australia.

e-lodged: applications lodged online have quicker processing times.

See: Online Services – General Skilled Migration

SIR visas: All applicants for a Skilled – Independent Regional [SIR]
visa receive priority processing.

Offshore: means that the visa being applied for can only be granted
when the applicant is outside of Australia.

If a visa application was made before the earliest relevant date as shown above and you have not been contacted by a case officer please contact the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre at: adelaide.skilled.centre@immi.gov.au

Applications eligible for priority processing

1. Applicants whose nominated occupation is on the Migration Occuptations in Demand List (MODL)

2. For applicants whose nominated occupation is not on the MODL, applications for any of the following visas are given priority:

a) Skill Matching (Migrant) (Class BR) – Subclass 134 – Skill Matching
b) Skilled – Independent (Migrant) (Class BN) – Subclass 137 – Skilled -
State/Territory-nominated Independent
c) Skilled – Australian-sponsored (Migrant) (Class BQ) – Subclass 139 -
Skilled – Designated Area – Sponsored
d) Skilled – Independent Regional (Provisional) (Class UX) – Subclass
495 – Skilled – Independent Regional (Provisional)
e) Skilled New Zealand (Residence) visa class (Class DB) – Subclass 863
– Skilled – Onshore Regional-Sponsored New Zealand Citizen
f) Skilled — Australian-sponsored Overseas Student (Residence) (Class
DE) – Subclass 882 – Skilled — Designated Area-sponsored Overseas
Student

Eligibility for priority processing does not mean that any processing requirements can be waived.

Finalising Applications

Please note that the information provided above is not about the time it will take to process an application to completion. The time it is expected to take to process a General Skilled Migration visa application to completion is detailed in the department’s service standards.

Service standards are specified for applications lodged with complete documentation. Individual cases may take longer than the service standard depending on the completeness and complexity of the case.

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The ASPC is current experiencing some delays in receipting and acknowledging applications and regrets the inconvenience this may be causing applicants and their representatives. While this backlog exists information will be provided here daily about what applications are currently being receipted. This backlog in receipting is being addressed and will be rectified over the next few weeks and your patience during this period is appreciated. Please note that these delays do not affect the date on which a valid application is recorded as having been received and is the date used for processing purposes.

As of 5 September 2006 the ASPC is receipting offshore applications received on 2 August 2006 and onshore applications received on 9 August 2006.

Please note that the update on allocation dates follows. The information will continue to updated for each Tuesday and you only need to email this mailbox once per week if you are seeking current information on allocation dates.

Processing and Allocation Information

The information below is updated weekly on Tuesdays.

As advised on the DIMA website processing of an application will usually commence within seven (7) working days of its receipt by the department. This means that an application is receipted, acknowledged and a file number is allocated.

Once this has occurred a case officer is appointed to assess each application as soon as possible, however, the ASPC receives a large number of applications and you will not be contacted immediately. Applications lodged on the dates shown below are currently being allocated to case officers for further processing.

As of 5 September 2006 the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre is allocating applications lodged on or before the following dates:

ONSHORE APPLICATIONS

Student/Graduate

Paper based applications: 13 April 2006 (for subclass 880 ) and 5 April 2006 (subclasses 881 and 882) E-lodged (online) applications: 19 April 2006 (for all subclasses)

Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) (SIR VISA)

Paper based applications: 11 May 2006
E-lodged (online) applications: 1 May 2006

New Zealand

All applications: 28 November 2005 (all subclasses)

OFFSHORE APPLICATIONS

Applications for Classes BN, BQ and BR (subclasses 134, 136, 137, 138 and 139)

Priority Applications: 20 March 2006
Non-Priority Applications: In the range of 25 January to 1 February 2006

Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) (SIR VISA)

Paper based applications: 24 April 2006
E-lodged (online) applications: 18 June 2006

Notes

Onshore: means that the visa being applied for can be granted while the applicant is in Australia.

e-lodged: applications lodged online have quicker processing times.
See: Online Services – General Skilled Migration

SIR visas: All applicants for a Skilled – Independent Regional [SIR]
visa receive priority processing.

Offshore: means that the visa being applied for can only be granted
when the applicant is outside of Australia.

If a visa application was made before the earliest relevant date as shown above and you have not been contacted by a case officer please contact the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre at: adelaide.skilled.centre@immi.gov.au

Applications eligible for priority processing

1. Applicants whose nominated occupation is on the Migration Occuptations in Demand List (MODL)

2. For applicants whose nominated occupation is not on the MODL, applications for any of the following visas are given priority:

a) Skill Matching (Migrant) (Class BR) – Subclass 134 – Skill Matching
b) Skilled – Independent (Migrant) (Class BN) – Subclass 137 – Skilled -
State/Territory-nominated Independent
c) Skilled – Australian-sponsored (Migrant) (Class BQ) – Subclass 139 -
Skilled – Designated Area – Sponsored
d) Skilled – Independent Regional (Provisional) (Class UX) – Subclass
495 – Skilled – Independent Regional (Provisional)
e) Skilled New Zealand (Residence) visa class (Class DB) – Subclass 863
– Skilled – Onshore Regional-Sponsored New Zealand Citizen
f) Skilled — Australian-sponsored Overseas Student (Residence) (Class
DE) – Subclass 882 – Skilled — Designated Area-sponsored Overseas
Student

Eligibility for priority processing does not mean that any processing requirements can be waived.

Finalising Applications

Please note that the information provided above is not about the time it will take to process an application to completion. The time it is expected to take to process a General Skilled Migration visa application to completion is detailed in the department’s service standards. Service standards are specified for applications lodged with complete documentation. Individual cases may take longer than the service standard depending on the completeness and complexity of the case.

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Hi Folks, Current Australian Immigration processing lead time as of 1st August.

News

Please note that there are no changes to the allocation dates for Offshore, SIR or New Zealand visa applications this week.

Applications for Subclass 139 – Skilled – Designated Area-sponsored visas must have been received by the Department by 30 June 2006. Applications received after this date are invalid.

Processing and Allocation Information

As advised on the DIMA website processing of an application will usually commence within seven (7) working days of its receipt by the department.

This means that an application is receipted, acknowledged and a file number is allocated. Read the full story

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Latest Processing times for July:

As advised on the DIMA website processing of an application will usually commence within seven (7) working days of its receipt by the department.

This means that an application is receipted, acknowledged and a file number is allocated.

Once this has occurred a case officer is appointed to assess each application as soon as possible, however, the ASPC receives a large number of applications and you will not be contacted immediately. Applications lodged on the dates shown below are currently being allocated to case officers for further processing.

As of 18th July 2006 the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre is allocating applications lodged on or before the following dates:

ONSHORE – paper based applications: 8 March 2006 (all applications)
ONSHORE- e-lodged (online) applications: 10 March 2006 (all applications)

SIR – paper based applications: 15 March 2006
SIR – e-lodged (online) applications: 1 May 2006

ONSHORE NEW ZEALAND APPLICATIONS: 22 November 2005

OFFSHORE APPLICATIONS (all paper based)
Priority Applications: In the range of 1 March to 8 March 2006
Non-Priority Applications: In the range of 28 November to 5 December 2005

Notes

Onshore: means that the visa being applied for can be granted while the applicant is in Australia.

e-lodged: applications lodged online have quicker processing times.

SIR visas: All applicants for a Skilled – Independent Regional [SIR] visa receive priority processing.

Offshore: means that the visa being applied for can only be granted when the applicant is outside of Australia.

If a visa application was made before the earliest relevant date as shown above and you have not been contacted by a case officer please contact the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre at: adelaide.skilled.centre@immi.gov.au

Applications eligible for priority processing

1. Applicants whose nominated occupation is on the Migration Occuptations in Demand List (MODL)

2. For applicants whose nominated occupation is not on the MODL, applications for any of the following visas are given priority:

a) Skill Matching (Migrant) (Class BR) – Subclass 134 – Skill Matching
b) Skilled – Independent (Migrant) (Class BN) – Subclass 137 – Skilled – State/Territory-nominated Independent
c) Skilled – Australian-sponsored (Migrant) (Class BQ) – Subclass 139 – Skilled – Designated Area – Sponsored
d) Skilled – Independent Regional (Provisional) (Class UX) – Subclass 495 – Skilled – Independent Regional (Provisional)
e) Skilled New Zealand (Residence) visa class (Class DB) – Subclass 863 – Skilled – Onshore Regional-Sponsored New Zealand Citizen
f) Skilled — Australian-sponsored Overseas Student (Residence) (Class DE) – Subclass 882 – Skilled — Designated Area-sponsored Overseas Student

Eligibility for priority processing does not mean that any processing requirements can be waived.

Finalising Applications

Please note that the information provided above is not about the time it will take to process an application to completion. The time it is expected to take to process a General Skilled Migration visa application to completion is detailed in the department’s service standards. Service standards are specified for applications lodged with complete documentation. Individual cases may take longer than the service standard depending on the completeness and complexity of the case.

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DIMA have finally started advertising the allocation to case officer times.

The information is updated weekly so I’ll start posting the latest updates from time to time on getting down under. The most up to date info is also available by sending a blank e-mail to: aspc.processing@immi.gov.au.

Processing Information

A case officer will be appointed to assess the application as soon as possible, however, the ASPC receives a large number of applications and you will not be contacted immediately.

Applications lodged on the dates shown below are currently being allocated to case officers for further processing:

The latest figures are below. Read the full story

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Skilled migrants who have been granted visas under the general skilled migration visa categories are achieving significantly higher levels of labour market success than ever before, the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Senator Amanda Vanstone and the Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP announced today.

A major evaluation of these categories has confirmed good results and has also identified some areas where targeting to the needs of the labour market can be enhanced.

The independent evaluation of the general skilled migration categories has been conducted by three of Australia’s leading immigration experts, Dr Bob Birrell, Associate Professor Lesleyanne Hawthorne and Professor Sue Richardson.

Australia already has the best skilled migration programme in the world, but we cannot afford to stand still, Minister Vanstone said. Read the full story

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Hey All, this is an announcement just received concerning a new initiative to match general skilled migration applicants with vacancies.

Let’s hope it works

Job matching service for skilled migrants

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) recently released a new web-based service that allows eligible migrant jobseekers to register a migrant vocational profile (MVP) and be matched to Migration Occupation in Demand List (MODL) vacancies lodged on Australian JobSearch that cannot be filled from the Australian labour market. This initiative is associated with the 2005-2006 Migration Programme.

The MVP service will be offered to principal applicants in selected General Skilled Migration (GSM) categories and is not available to accompanying spouses or dependants. This includes:

– Skilled Independent (subclass 136)
– Skilled Area Sponsored (subclass 138)
– Skilled Independent Overseas Student (subclass 880) and
– the Skilled Australian Sponsored Overseas Student (subclass 881).

From late April 2006, DIMA will contact eligible skilled migrants by email or post to invite them to complete an MVP (outlining their work history and qualifications) on DEWRs website at www.skilledmigrant.gov.au

For further information contact the Migration Programme Section Email: mvp@immi.gov.au

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